Caster



(No Mode L) P. K. WAY.

GASTE-R.

Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS K. WVAY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO STEPHEN O. MENDENHALL, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

CASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,764, dated March 31, 1885.

Application filed April1fi,1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS K. WAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to stem? anti-frio tion castersthat is to say, to casters having a stem or spindle for entering the furniture or other article, and having means for lessening the friction and facilitating the horizontal swiveling motion of the caster. To this end I arrange the caster in such manner as to receive directly upon the head of the spindle the main weight of the article being supported, the anti-friction devices being in tended to receive the lateral pressure only between the spindle and its socket in the furniture leg or part. For this purpose I employ two series of loose flat anti-friction rollers surrounding the spindle, the lower series resting upon the cap-plate or bottom of the socket, and the upper series supported on a thimble or collar surrounding the spindle.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will proceed to describeit more fully with reference to the accompanying draw ing, which represents in vertical section my improved caster applied to the leg or other part of the piece of furniture.

A is the spindle-casing or socket of metal cored out interiorly to receive the spindle B and anti-friction movement. The said spindle is fixed to or formed on the saddle K, supported from the axle of floor wheel or roller L.

M is a ring surrounding the spindle, to exclude dust from the movement.

I is the cap or bottom plate of the socket A. An upset rim or lip, S, on said socket fixes the cap-plate to the socket, and a flange, T, is employed for fixing the socket to the furniture by means of screws or otherwise.

D are the. lower loose flat anti-friction rollers, arranged in annular series around the spindle near its bottom, and resting on the plate I. The bottom of the spindle bears laterally against the rollers D, and the saddle K is thus allowed to swing freely around when thepiece of furniture is moved. The portion of the spindle lying above the rollers D maybe made with a shoulder, as shown, to rest down on the rollers when the furniture is lifted and prevent the spindle from falling out. An additional annular series, R, of loose flat antifriction rollers is provided at the top of the spindle, bearing on a way, P, prepared therefor. Against the shoulder, below'said way,a thimble, P, abuts, and while supporting the upper rollers, It, is prevented from pressing tightly thereon.

Having thus described my invention, I wish it understood that novelty,broadl y considered, is disclaimed in the loose horizontal anti-friction rollers arranged around a caster-spindle. Neither do I claim, broadly, to be the original inventor of two series of anti-friction rollers, one arranged at the top and the other at the bottom of the spindle. In my improvement the weight is supported directly on the top of the spindle, and the series of anti-friction rollers, both at top and bottom, receive merely lateral strain; but

What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a spindle-casing, a spindle supported on the floor-wheel and receiving on its top the weight of said-casing, a series of flat anti-friction rollers surrounding the top of said spindle, supported by a thimble or collar in such manner as to receive lateral but not vertical pressure, and a second series of anti-friction rollers supported within the said casing around the bottom of the spindle, substantially as set forth.

2. The casing A, combined with the thimble P, friction-rollers R, and spindle B, constructed as described, the said friction-rollers being located between the thimble P and case A, and adapted to bear against the upper end of the spindle, together with the frictionrollers D and bottom plate, I, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

FRANCIS K. WAY. n s.]

In presence of- CHASE STEWART, N. E. O. WHITNEY. 

